Italians protest Israel and military build-up: "If Trump intervenes, there will be war"

A demonstration of thousands against armaments took place in Rome on Saturday at the initiative of part of the Italian center-left opposition and with the participation of representatives of about 500 associations. They protested against the military operation of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip and increased defense spending.

The demonstration was attended by representatives of the parliamentary opposition groups, the Five Star Movement and the Green and Left Alliance, as well as representatives of the Palestinian community, among others.

The demonstrators carried flags with the word "Peace" and banners with the slogans: "Stop genocide", "Free Palestine" and "There is only one choice - disarm the world".

One of the organizers of the Rome rally, Raffaela Bolini of the cultural and social association Arci, said during the rally: "According to all the polls, the majority of citizens are against the war. We are terribly concerned that the law of the strongest prevails over international law. Whoever attacks another is committing genocide and destruction."

"We mobilized when the European Union decided on new armaments worth 800 billion euros. Then everything happened: NATO's crazy demands for 5 percent of GDP for armaments, the genocide in Gaza will not end, the ongoing war in Ukraine and now Israel's unjustified unilateral attack on Iran. We are facing a world war," declared the Italian activist.

"If (US President Donald) Trump intervenes, we really are facing a global war, and I remind you that there are many American military bases in Italy," she added.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was entering the Roman Capitol just as the demonstration was passing by towards the Colosseum, replied when asked about it: "It is good that there is such a general mobilization to avoid an arms race."

During the demonstration, several flags of Israel, NATO and the European Union were burned, media reports.

From Rome Sylwia Wysocka (PAP)

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